Metal-coiling apparatus.



W. R. CLARK.

' METAL COILINGAPPARATUS APPLICATION FILED AUG-29. I914.

1,25s,092@ Patented Mar. 5,191&

5 SHEETS-SHEET I.

WITNESSES.

ATTORNEY W. R. CLARK.

METAL comm; APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-29.1914. 1,258,092, Patented Mar. 5,12%

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES:

\INVENTOR W. R. CLARK. METAL COILING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILE D AUG-29. 1914. 1,258,092.

Patented Mar. 5, 1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

MIVE/VTOH A TOR/VEV R. CLARK.

METAL COILING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-29.1914.

Patented Mar. 5, 1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

AN KN l/Vl/E/VTOR 601% W IT/VEWE/( I e/L? A TTOH/VEY .-w. R. CLARK.METAL coiume APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED AUG-29. 1914.

Patented Mar. 5, 1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5 mum/r01? I I/ By MmRA/EY WI TNESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER R. CLARK, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO BRIDGEPORTBRASS COMPANY, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

METAL-COIL ING APPARATUS.

cSpecification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 29, 1914. Serial No. 859,237.

To all whom it mayconcern: I

Be it known that I, WALTER R. CLARK, a citizen o the United States,residing in the city of Bridgeport, county of Fairfield, and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metal-Coiling Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

In the use of reels, drums or so-called blocks for coiling sheet orstrip metal as delivered from various machines such as rolling mills,cleaning machines, slitters, etc., it is desirable to feed the metalonto the block in a convenient and safe manner with out stopping themachine or the block and without danger to the operator. The ordinarymanual blocking or coiling at rather slow speeds, where the end of thestrip, sheet or other length'of stock is bent by hand and thus startedaround the rotating block, is not particularly dangerous to theoperator, but where the strip is fed at a high causes considerable lossof time and detracts from their usefulneses. One of the primary objectsof the present invention, therefore, is

to provide a simple, efficient form of metal coiling apparatus forcoiling a strip or other length of stock, issuing from a rolling mill orother machine, on a winding drum or block in a safe and expeditiousmanner.

In many instances'a block or drum is not necessary at all to coil thematerial, as this can be done by an ordinary three-roll coiler such asis familiar to those versed in the art;

The three-roll coiler, or an equivalent device, will crimp or set themetal strip so that it will coil on itself in successive convolu tionsas the metal continues to issue from the rolling mill or other machine.When this operation is carried out there is no necessity for a mandrel,core, drum, block or similar part to serve as a support for the coil,which,

as it forms, may be supported from beneath by means of suitable rollersor the like. In other cases, however, it is desired to exertconsiderable tension upon the metal being coiled, e. g. to insure itsfeeding evenly and flatly from the rolls of a rolling mill, or to assistin feeding through the knives of a slitter. In this case it has beenimpossible to utilize the three-roll coiler, and the use of a block hasgenerally been necessitated, the required tension being created bydriving the block at a speed faster than the strip is fed to it, thedriving means being constituted by a belt or friction clutch or othermeans which can slip when loaded beyond the pull for which it is set.There are, therefore, certain times when a coiler can be usedadvantageously, and there are other occa- SlOI1lS where it is desirableto use a block or ree e One of the objects of the present invention isto meet the above described conditions by providing a machine which canbe used at will either or coiling the stock without the use of a blockor with the use of a block.

' Patented Mar. 5, 1918.

any preferred form of coiler for coiling the strip without the use of ablock, with means for converting it into a so-called blocker, havingprovision for winding the strip on a block, drum or reel. Viewed inanother aspect the object is to furnish a blocker of such constructionthat it can, if desired, be employed as a means for forming an open0011' devoid of tension, 6. g. as an ordinary threeroll coiler.

Another object of the invention is to improve the general constructionand operation of apparatus of the class to which the invention relates.1

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the novel featuresand combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a preferred form of apparatusembodying my mventi'on, but he in ention can be embodied in a number ofother forms without digressing from my inventive conception or idea ashereinafter set forth. 7

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of arolling mill installation having my improvements, showing the coilingapparatus in the process of forming an open coil, that is, of forming acoil without the use of a drum or block;

Fig. l is a diagrammatic detail of Fig. 1, showing more clearly theposition of the strip, at an intermediate stage in the operation;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the drum or block inoperative position with the strip in a preliminary stage of the blockingoperation; v

Fig. 3 is a'vertical, longitudinal section of the apparatus in theposition shown in Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the coiling apparatus,partly in section on line, H of Fig. 2;

Figs. 5-9, inclusive, are diagrams showing successive stages of theoperation of coiling the strip on the block; and H Fig. 10 is adiagrammatic view showing a slightly modified construction.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown my improvements applied to anapparatus for coiling strip metal as it is delivered from the rolls of arolling mill A. I have not deemed it necessary to illustrate the entireroll stand and have shown the rolls diagrammatically, as indicated byreference charac ter 20. On the discharge side of the rolls 20 is adevice for forming an open coil, illustrated as an ordinary three-rollcoiler. This three-roll coiler is designated generally by referencecharacter B. Movable into and out of cooperation with the coiler B is ablock, drum or reel C, mounted on a suitable carrier D, adapted to beactuated by power mechanism E. By operating the carrier D by means ofthe powerjmeohanism E the block or drum C may be moved into or out ofcotiperation with the coiler B for the purposes hereinafter described.

Referring now to the details of the apparatus, the coiler B may, asstated, be of the usual three-roll type, having side frames 21 betweenwhich are mounted three rolls 22, 23 and 24 respectively, which give themetal issuing from the reducing rolls 20 a bend or set which causessuccessive convolutions to coil on each other, in the well known manner.The metal strip passes from the bite of the reducing rolls 20 directlyinto the bite of the coiling rolls 22, 23, 24, by way of a guide 25,which maybe of any preferred construction. In the form shown the bend orset given to the metal may be varied by adjustment of the lower coilingrolls 23, 24,

relative to the upper coiling roll. 22, for

which purpose the rolls 23, 24 have bearing blocks 26, common to both,which in the embodiment illustrated are vertically adjustable by meansof screws 27. However, it will be understood that the same result couldbe obtained by vertical adjustment of the roll 22 relative to the. rolls23, 24, and that in fact the rolls 22, 23, 24 can be adjustable invarious ways individually and relative to each other, as called for bycircumstances, without departing in-any way from the invention. Suitablepower mechanism for adjusting the coiling rolls to vary the bend or setgiven the metal may be employed, and it will be manifest that I haveshown the adjusting screws 27 merely for the purpose'ji of simplifyingthe disclosure. In the form shown the coiling rolls give the metal a setin an upward direction, so that.

the axis of thecoil which is formed is above the coiling rolls, and asthe coil forms it is Fig. 1. The rolls 28 and 29 not only support themetal but by their movement facili-- tate the coiling thereof, andinorder to still further facilitate the formation of the coil, a guideplate 30 is located at the rear of the coiler B in association with theroll 29, and suitable guard devices 31, 32 are interposed respectivelybetween the rolls 22 and 29 and between the rolls 22 and 28, as shown-inFig. 1. The various rolls of the coiler B are driven by suitable gears,which are illustrated in the drawings, but-which it will not benecessary to refer to in detail. In the form shown the driving power isapplied to a shaft 33 appropriately journaled in the side frames 21.This shaft carries a pulley 34 and may be driven by a belt 35 runningoyer said pulley and over a pulley 36 on a line shaft 37, although theparticular driving means is unessential.

In the machine illustrated the pulley 34 for driving the coiler rolls islocated at the same side of the coiler as the various driving shaftcarries a pulley 38. The pulley 38 is instrumental in driving the rotaryblock or drum C, as will now be describedI The block or drum C ismovably mounted so that it may be shifted to a position wherein its axisis above and substantially in vertical alinement with the axis of thecoiling roll 22, in such a location that the 001w formed by the rolls22, 23, 24 W11]. wrap or wind around the block. In other words, theblock and coiler are so arranged that one is movable relatively to theother in a plane at right angles to the axis of the block. In

tion with the coiler, as shown in Fig. 2, or

out of cooperation with the coiler, as shown in Figs. 1 and 9. In theexample illustrated the lower extremity of the lever or frame I) ispivoted on a shaft 42, which shaft 42 also aids in the rotation of theblock. To this end the pivot shaft 42 carries pulleys 43, 44,respectively, the first of which is driven by a belt 45, running overthe pulley 38 on the drive shaft of the coiler B, while the secondpulley (44) drives a belt 46, running over a pulley 47 on the blockshaft 41. v

The power mechanism E for actuating the frame or lever D and therebyswinging the block into and out ofposition above the coiler may be ahydraulic or other fluid pressure device such as a cylinder 48 thepiston of which (not shown) is connected by a connecting rod 49 and link50 with the lower portion of the block carrying frame. Provision is madefor driving the piston of the device 48 in either direction. When thepiston is thrust to the right (Fig. 2) the frame D is swung to carry theblock into position over the coiler B, and when the piston is driventoward the left (Fig. 2)

the block is swung upward away from the coiler, as shown in Fig. 1, andon further I movement the parts will take the position shown in Fig. 9.

The operation of the apparatus is substantially as follows: when it isdesired to coil the strip in an open coil, without subjecting it totension, the power mechanism,

E is actuated to move the block C laterally to some distance from thecoiler B, and the strip emerglng from the rolling mill is formed into acoil on the rolls 28, 29, as previously explained. In this case eitherof the driving belts 45 or 46 may be rendered inoperative if desired asthe rotation of the block is unnecessary.

IVhen it is desired to coil the strip on the block for the purpose ofcreating tension in the strip, the power mechanism E is actuated to movethe block into position over the coiler B, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Inthis position the block is in substantial vertical alinement with thecoiling roll 22 and the lower portion of the block is spaced a certaindistance from the upper surfaces of the rolls 28, 22, 29.

By comparing Figs. 1 and 2 it will be seen that in this position of theparts the block is somewhat out of axial coincidence with the coil whichwould normally be formed by the coiler B. In the form shown the axis ofthe block is somewhat above what might be termed the normal axis of thecoil. The block is rotated by its belt 46 and it will be noted that themechanism is so arranged that the surfac speed of the block is greaterthan that of the coilingv rolls. Furthermore, the mechanism is soadjusted that the coiling rolls bend the strip to such an extent thatthe latter tends to form a circle which is slightly smaller than thecircumference of the winding drum or block C. The metal passing out ofthe rolls 20 and through the coiling rolls is bent into an upwardlydirected curve as before, and the end portion of the strip forms a curveof less radius than the drum orblock, but the forward extremity strikes.the periphery of the drum, say, approximately in horizontal alinementwith its axis, as shown in Fig. 5, so that the coil or curve isexpanded. As the strip continues to feed upwardly around the rotatingblock the free extremity of the strip hugs the block closely, as shownin Figs. 6 and 7, and finally the extremity of the strip, after huggingthe block through a rotation of, -say, approximately 450 degrees,passesinto contact with the under surface of another portion of the strip fedupward from the coiling rolls. At this instant a layer of the strip isin close contact with the block throughout the circumference orperiphery of the latter. When the forward extremity of the strip comesinto contact with and is confined by what might be termed the secondlayer of the coil the first layer is frictionally clamped on the.

block, and as the latter rotates at a higher surface speed than thestrip, it exerts a frictional pull upon the strip, which pulls it tightand exerts tension upon it in proportion to the tightness of the drivingbelt. As the rotation of the block and the feed of the strip continuefurther layers of successively increasing diameter are laid on the blockin such a manner as to form a tight uniform coil thereon, with theproper tension in that portion of the strip intermediate the block andthe rolling mill or other machine. By comparing Figs. 7 and 8 it will beseen how the increased surface speed of the block relative to the normalfeed of the strip causes the strip to be pulled up in a straight linefrom theroll 28, instead of in a gradual curve, after the first layerhas been formed. After a few convolutions have been laid on the. blockthe strip can be given a straight pull from the rolls orv other machineif desired by actuating the power mechanism E to shift the block intothe position shown in Fig. 9. The coiling rolls 22, 23, 24 may beadjusted'to release the strip when the block is in this position, sothat during the greater part of the formation ofthe coil there is adirect pull from the mill to the block just as in the case where the oldhand blocking is employed. This permits ready access to the portion ofthe strip emerging from the rolls so that the attendant may gage themetal during the rolling operation, as customary.

The operation of forming the first convolution around the block is ofcourse the matter of prime importance, for the rest of the operationtakes place in substantially the customary manner. By my invention thestrip is fed on the block in a very reliable manner, without stoppingeither the rolling mill or the block, and as novhand manipulation of thestock is necessary, all

danger from that source is eliminated. The method employed is verysimple, because the metal naturally commences to follow thecircumference of the drum, which, owing to its large diameter, opens upthe coil slightly against the spring action of the strip, thus causingthe end of the strip to follow closely around the drum until it feedsunder and is pinched by the second layer or wrapping. The coilingoperation is then completed in the usual manner.

When it is again desired to coil the strip, without the use of theblock, the power mechanism E is actuated to return the block to theinoperative position.

In Fig. 10 I have shown a modification of the apparatus in which thesupporting roll 28 of the coiler is omitted, so that after the firstconvolution has been formed the strip will pull up in a straight linefrom the bite of the rolls 22, 23.

My improved apparatus may be characterized as a combined open coiler andblocker, for the reason that it is adapted to form an open coil, asshown in Fig. 1, or to wind the strip tightly on a block, as shown inFig. 2. The combined open coiler and blocker is provided with a commonmeans for bending the strip in both the open coiling and blockingoperations.

It will be obvious that I do not limit myself to the coiling of metal inthe form of sheets, because my apparatus can be used in connection withvarious kinds of machines which turn outstock in various forms. It willbe apparent also that while the movability of the block into and out ofoperative position with respect to the coiler' is an important featurein some aspects of the invention, it is not important in other aspects.In some cases the drum or block may be fixed relative to the devicewhich ives the metal its bend or set to start it moving around theblock. Moreover, the block need not always .be located above the coiler,and the coiler need not necessarily be of the three-roll type.

Various changes in these and other respects may be adopted within thescope of the invention as defined inthe claims. I

I do not claim herein the method of forming the coil on the block, asthe same forms the subject matter of my application Serial No. 857,767,filed August 20, 1914.

What I claim is:

1. In apparatus forblocking metal strips and the like, the combinationof a coiler adapted to give the strip a curve or bend of definiteradius, a rotary block, and means for laying the strip tightly ontheblock in a plurality of convolutions of successively increasingdiameter; substantially as described.

2. In apparatus for blocking metal strips and the like, the combinationof a coiler, means to drive the same, a block cooperating with thecoiler, and means to drive the block at a higher speed-than the coiler;substantially as described.

3. In blocking apparatus, the combination of devices for feeding thestrip and giving it a bend or set tending to form it into a convolutionof predetermined radius, a block of greater radius than such convolutionadapted to cooperate with said devices in forming a tight coil on theblock, and means to drive the block, substantially as described.

4:. The combination with coiling rolls and means for feeding stock tosaid rolls, of a block cooperatin with said rolls, and means for drivingsaid look at a higher speed than] said rolls; substantially asdescribed.

5. The combination of a driven coiler adapted to give a 1positivecoiling bend to a length of materia, and a rotary block located in theline of feed of the bent material' substantially as described.

6. In blocking apparatus, the combination of a three-roll coller, andmeans for engaging and blocking the strip as it is bent by and issuesfrom said coiler; substantially as described.

7. In blocking a paratus, the combination of a three-roll coi er tocurve the strip in a single plane, a block to receive the strip, andmeans to dr1ve the block so as to lay thereon a plurality ofconvolutions of successively increasin diameter, said block being ofgreater lameter than the initial curve imparted to the strip by thecoiler; substantially as described.

8. The combination of a coiler, means to drive the same, a block locatedin the line of feed of the metal bent by said coiler, and means to drivesaid block; substantially as described.

9. The combination with a rolling mill or like machine, of a coiler andblock located laterally of said rolling mill so as to receive the metalissuing therefrom, said coiler and block being arranged in superposedrelation so that the coiler lays the metal on the block, and means forshifting the block away from the coiler when the coil on the block hasbeen started so as to obtain a straight pull from the mill to the block;substantially as described.

10. In metal coiling apparatus, the combination of means to feed themetal, means to curve the metal as it is fed, a block located within thecurve of the metal, and means to drive the block at a greater surfacespeed than the normal feed of the metal.

11. In metal coiling apparatus, the combination of a coiler, and arotary block movable into blocking cooperation with the coiler;substantially as described.

12. In metal coiling apparatus, the com bination of a coiler, a rotaryblock, and power mechanism to move the block into a blocking position inwhich it receives the bent strip directly from the coiler; substantiallyas described.

18. In a combined open coiler and blocker, the combination of means forforming a plurality of coil convolutions in a single plane, and a blockshiftable in said plane toward said coil-forming means; substantially asdescribed.

14. In a metal coiling apparatus, a threeroll metal-strip coiler, and arotary block located in the line of feed of said three-roll coiler andpositioned to receive the metal strip after it passes through thecoiler; substantially as described.

15. In metal coiling apparatus, the combination of a coiler and a rotaryblock, said coiler and block relatively movable to bring the block intothe line of feed'of the coiler;

substantially as described.

16. In metal coiling apparatus, the combination of coiling rolls, meansto drive the same, a rotary block movable relative to said coilingrolls, means for driving said block and power mechanism for shiftingsaid block into blocking position with respect to said rolls;substantially as described.

17. The combination of a coiler adapted to give a positive coiling bendto a length of material, a rotary block, and means for producingrelative movement of the parts so as to bring said block into the lineof feed of the coiler; substantially as described.

18. In metal coiling apparatus, the combination ofa three-roll coiler, aframe pivoted to swing over the coiler, a block carried by said frame,means for rotating said block to wind the material thereon as it leavesthe coiler, and power mechanism for shifting said frame; substantiallyas described.

19. In metal coiling apparatus, the combination of means to feed themetal, means to curve the metal as it is fed, a block located within thecurve of the metal and of greater radius than said initial curve, and

means to drive the block at agreater surface speed than the normal feedof the metal; substantially as described.

20. In metal coiling apparatus, the combination of a coiler adapted togive the strip a curve of predetermined radius and to form a coilcomposed of overlapping convolutions of successively increasingdiameter, a member formed and located to support the coil interiorly asit forms, and means for rotating said member while engaging the innerconvolution of the coil, whereby the strip is laid on said member in aplurality of layers; substantially as described.

21. In metal coiling apparatus, the combination of a coiler adapted togive the strip a curve of predetermined radius, and to form a coilcomposed of overlapping convolutions, a member of greater radius thansaid first-named radius arranged to support the coil interiorly as itforms, and means for rotating said member while engaging the innerconvolution of the coil, whereby the strip is laid on said member in aplurality of layers; substantially as described- 22. In metal coilingapparatus, the combination of a coiler adapted to give the strip a curveof predetermined radius and to form a coil composed of overlappingconvolutions of successively increasing diameter, a block the radius ofwhich is greater than said first-named radius, located within the curveof the metal and adapted to support the coil interiorly as it forms, andmeans for driving said block at a higher speed' than the normal feed ofthe metal; substantially as described.

I 23. In an automatic blocker, the combination of a drum or block, meansfor rotating the same, means for feeding the strip toward the block, andmeans for curving the strip, before it reaches the block, on such acurve that the forward end of the strip strikes the block and movesaround with the same.

24. The combination with a block, of a bending device for laying thestrip on the block, said bending device constructed and arranged tooperate independently of the block, and to form an open coil; substan-'tially as described.

25. A combined open coiler and blocker,

having a block, and a common means for bending the strip in both theopen coiling operation and the blocking operation; substantially asdescribed.

26. The combination of a coiler, a block mounted to swing toward thecoiler about an axis eccentric to the block, and means for. rotating theblockwhen it occupiesany of a number of difi'erent positions relative tosuch axis; substantially as described.

27. The combination of a block, a coiling device which engages itsproduct with said block, and means for opening the coiling de- .7

80. The combination of a coiler, and a block located in the line of feedof said coiler to cooperate therewith in blocking material, said blockmounted to move toward and away from the coiler; substantially asdescribed.

31. The combination with a rolling mill or the like, of a coiler to coilthe strip issuing from the mill, and a member about which the strip iswound cooperative with the coiler for blocking the material bentthereby, said member mounted to swing away from the coiler to obtain astraight pull from the mill; substantially as described. V

32. The combination with a block, of a bending device in Whose line offeedv said block is located, adapted to lay the material on said block,said bending device and block being relatively movable so that they canbe separated from each other, and said bending device constructed andarranged to form an open coil when it is separated from said block;substantially as described. 7 In witness whereof, I have hereunto set myhand on the lSdav of August 1914.

WALTER'R. CLARK. Witnesses:

. CLIFFORD W. LocKWoon, WILLIAM B. WALLACE.

